hand
car
Plural
handcars
1
a small, manually operated vehicle used on railway tracks, powered by pumping handles to move it along
A handcar is a small, manually operated vehicle used on railway tracks. It is typically powered by people pumping a set of handles up and down, which moves the wheels along the track. Handcars were once commonly used by railway workers for maintenance and inspection, allowing them to travel short distances quickly without needing a locomotive. Although they have mostly been replaced by motorized vehicles, handcars are still used in some areas for historical or recreational purposes. They are simple in design and provide a fun, nostalgic way of traveling along the tracks.
- The kids had fun pretending to pump the handcar while touring the train yard.
- I’ve never seen a handcar in use before, only in old movies.
- The railroad workers quickly got on the handcar to check the rails for damage after the storm.
- The workers used a handcar to inspect the tracks early in the morning.
- The group took turns pumping the handles on the handcar as they moved along the track.